<a href="http://www.ark.is/#/verk/villa_lola" target="_blank">Villa Lola</a> is the latest project of Reykjavik-based firm <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/arkis/">Arkis</a>, and is a flexible, multi-family home in Akureyri, Iceland. The client requested a low-maintenance, low-impact home to take in the sites of the surrounding landscape, and that's exactly what they got. Built from larch wood, the triplex features eco friendly materials and is strongly rooted in nature with a form that was inspired by the surrounding mountains.

1

Villa Lola-Arkis

Villa Lola is located in outdies of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akureyri" target="_blank">Akureyri</a>, the largest town in northern Iceland and across from Eyjarfjodur Bay with unrestricted mountain views to the north and south.

2

Villa Lola-Arkis

The client wanted a home that could be divided into three apartments and also for the home to require little maintenance and have as little impact as possible on the site.

3

Villa Lola-Arkis

Taking inspiration from the surrounding landscape as well as Swiss mountains cabins, a sea ranch in Sonoma County in California, and Japanese solutions in spatial efficiency, <a href="http://www.ark.is/" target="_blank">Arkis</a> designed this wood-clad home.

4

Villa Lola-Arkis

The home's volume is composed of three alternating roof slopes, which point towards the sky forming a valley in between.

5

Villa Lola-Arkis

Built from wood except for one concrete wall, used for stabilizing the structure, and a concrete foundation, Villa Lola is then clad in larch wood.

6

Villa Lola-Arkis

Time will have its way with the larch and weather it to a gray-ish color, forming a natural weather protection and a low maintenance exterior.

7

Villa Lola-Arkis

Flooring is of robust wooden boards and concrete terrazzo, the walls are painted with environmentally friendly paint and all the windows are of wood, clad with aluminum on the exterior.

8

Villa Lola-Arkis

During construction, the builders worked carefully to ensure there was little impact on the site and waste was recycled wherever possible.

9

Villa Lola-Arkis

Kitchen in apartment 3.

10

Villa Lola-Arkis

Bathroom and living area.

11

Villa Lola-Arkis

Living room in apartment 1.

12

Villa Lola-Arkis

View of the landscape from apartment 1.

13

Villa Lola-Arkis

First floor plan of Villa Lola.

14

1/14

Villa Lola-Arkis

Villa Lola is the latest project of Reykjavik-based firm Arkis, and is a flexible, multi-family home in Akureyri, Iceland. The client requested a low-maintenance, low-impact home to take in the sites of the surrounding landscape, and that's exactly what they got. Built from larch wood, the triplex features eco friendly materials and is strongly rooted in nature with a form that was inspired by the surrounding mountains.